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06-17-08 Town Council Meeting
EAST HARTFORD TOWN COUNCIL

TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS

JUNE 17, 2008

PRESENT Chair Richard F. Kehoe, Vice Chair William P. Horan, Jr., Minority Leader Donald H. Pitkin, Councillors Marc I. Weinberg, Jason Rojas, Barbara-Ann Rossi, Patricia Harmon and Eric Thompson

ABSENT  Majority Leader Marcia A. Leclerc


CALL TO ORDER

Chair Kehoe called the meeting to order at 7:39 p.m.  He announced the exit locations in
accordance with Connecticut General Statutes §29-381, after which the Council joined him in the pledge of allegiance.


Minority Leader Pitkin asked for a point of personal privilege to recognize the recent graduation of the class of 2008 from the Connecticut International Baccalaureate Academy.



OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ON AGENDA ITEMS

Mayor Currey (1) thanked Channel 5 for filming this Council meeting and the graduation of East Hartford High School, both being held on the same evening; (2) attended the graduation of the Parent Leadership Training Institute; (3) announced that bids for dike repairs were opened today; (4) noted the new outreach casework for Youth Services starts work on June 23rd; (5) stated the summer concert series starts Thursday, June 26th; (6) viewed the different Lincoln sculptures along the riverfront.


APPROVAL OF MINUTES

June 3, 2008 Executive Session/DEP – East Hartford Golf Course

MOTION  By Don Pitkin
                        seconded by Bill Horan
                        to approve the minutes of the June 3, 2008 Executive Session/DEP – East
                        Hartford Golf Course.
                        Motion carried 8/0.

June 3, 2008 Regular Meeting

MOTION  By Don Pitkin
                        seconded by Bill Horan
                        to approve the minutes of the June 3, 2008 Regular Meeting.
                        Motion carried 8/0.

RESOLUTIONS

State Department of Education Youth Services Grant

MOTION  By Jason Rojas
                        seconded by Pat Harmon
                        to adopt the following resolution:

RESOLVED that Melody A. Currey, Mayor of the Town of East Hartford, is hereby authorized to execute on behalf of this municipality a grant application in an amount not to exceed $43,652 with the State of Connecticut Department of Education for a “Youth Service Bureau Grant” and to file any amendments or reports as may be required to successfully complete the terms of the grant contract.  

On call of the vote, motion carried 8/0.


Reconstruction of Governor Street

MOTION  By Barbara Rossi
                        seconded by Jason Rojas
                        to adopt the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that Melody A. Currey, Mayor, be, and herby is authorized to sign the agreement entitled:

“Agreement between the State of Connecticut and the Town of East Hartford for the Construction, Inspection and Maintenance of Reconstruction of Governor Street utilizing Federal Funds under the Urban Component of the Surface Transportation Program” and a Certification  Indicating the Council has adopted as its Policy to Support the Nondiscrimination Agreements and Warranties Required under the Connecticut General Statutes.

On call of the vote, motion carried 8/0.



COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS

French Canadian Day

Chair Kehoe announced that June 24, 2008 would be set aside to honor people of
French-Canadian descent.  Festivities would be held at the Connecticut State
Capitol Building, Hall of Flags at 11:00 AM.  State Senator Gary LeBeau, State
Representative Russell Morin, and the Ladies of the French Social Circle were
instrumental in establishing this celebration.


Recycling Program Update

James Kate, the town’s Recycling Coordinator, updated the Council on the town’s
progress in recycling.  With the pending new regulations from CRRA starting July 1st, the
Mayor stressed that the residents need to do more recycling. She noted that the town
pays for trash to be disposed but recovers revenue from recycled items.




NEW BUSINESS

Fiscal Year 2007-2008 Interdepartmental Transfers

MOTION  By Jason Rojas
                seconded by Barbara Rossi
                to approve the interdepartmental transfers for the fiscal year 2007-2008
                consistent with the transfers listed in a memorandum from Finance
Director Michael Walsh to Mayor Melody Currey dated June 17, 2008
totaling $628,000.00 in transfers within the General Fund.
                Motion carried 8/0.

General Fund From
~
~
Account Number
Name
Amount
G1100-63134
Town Council - Internal Audit
         15,000.00
G1100-63221
Town Council - Printing and Repro.
                     5,000.00
G1200-63221
Town Clerk - Printing and Repro.
                   15,000.00
G2200-63131
Corp. Counsel - Sheriff/Court Costs
                     8,000.00
G2200-63237
Corp. Counsel - Appraisal
                   10,000.00
G2200-63290
Corp. Counsel - Case Prep.
                     7,000.00
G2300-63129
Human Resources - Consultant
                   15,000.00
G3300-64500
IT - Capital Improvements/Equipment
                   30,000.00
G3700-63236
Revenue and Coll. - Office Equipment
                     5,000.00
G3800-61407
Employee Benefits - WC State Assessment
         75,000.00
G3800-61436
Employee Benefits - Longevity
         55,000.00
G3800-63499
Employee Benefits - Severance
         60,000.00
G5204-60110
Police Operations - Permanent Services
       135,000.00
G6100-60110
Inspections - Permanent Services
         50,000.00
G9200-60110
Nursing - Permanent Services
         80,000.00
G9300-60110
Environmental Control - Permanent Services
         21,000.00
G9300-63138
Environmental Control - Contract Services
         14,000.00
G9400-60110
Social Services - Permanent Services
            8,000.00
G9430-60110
Sonior Services - Permanent Services
            7,000.00
G9700-63244
Capital Improvement - Leases
         13,000.00
~
~
~
~
~
TOTAL
$     628,000.00
~
~
General Fund To
~
Account Number
Name
Amount
G1300-60110
Registrar of Voter - Permanent Services
                     3,000.00
G5317-60141
Fire Suppression - Overtime
                 400,000.00
G7700-62321
PW - Fleet - Gasoline
                  59,000.00
G8100-60110
Park Administration - Permanent Services
         90,000.00
G8200-60110
Park Maintenance - Permanent Services
         75,000.00
G9813-60120
Veteran's Commission
            1,000.00
~
~
~
TOTAL
$     628,000.00
~
~
~
~
~
~
~


MOTION  By Jason Rojas
                seconded by Eric Thompson
                to adopt the following resolution:

RESOLUTION CONCERNING A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION TO FUND YEAR-END PUBLIC WORKS EXPENDITURES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2008

WHEREAS, the Public Works Department of the Town of East Hartford was forced to respond to a variety of service issues throughout the fiscal year which impacted their overtime budget unfavorably, including snow removal, leaf removal, catch basin repairs, flood control system maintenance and repairs, and

WHEREAS, the Public Works Department of the Town of East Hartford, due to the volatility in prices, spent considerably more money on electricity, natural gas, gasoline, diesel fuel, and heating oil than budgeted, and

WHEREAS, insufficient monies are unavailable within the normal operating budget to cover the aforementioned expenses.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the East Hartford Town Council does hereby approve this Supplemental Budget Appropriation of funds in the amount of $525,000 from the Town’s Undesignated Fund Balance for the purpose of funding fiscal year 2007-2008 costs as listed below and does hereby amend the current 2007-2008 fiscal year Operating Budget to reflect the addition of the attached Supplemental Revenue Appropriation and Expenditure Appropriation.

        G0320-55900             Fund Balance Appropriation                              525,000
G7300-60110             PW - Highway Services - Permanent Services              110,000
G7300-60141             PW - Highway Services – Overtime                                  70,000
G7300-65253             PW - Highway Services - Street Lighting                   35,000
G7700-60110             PW - Fleet - Permanent Services                         155,000
G7700-62321             PW - Fleet – Gasoline                                     65,000
G7800-62990             PW - Maintenance - Heating Oil                            90,000

Funds certified as unobligated and available.

MOTION  By Don Pitkin
                seconded by Jason Rojas
                to amend the motion to read as follows:
                “WHEREAS, insufficient monies are unavailable within the normal
operating budget to cover the aforementioned expenses.”
Motion carried 8/0.

On call of the vote of the amended motion, motion carried 8/0.


Refund of Taxes

MOTION  By Marc Weinberg
                seconded by Eric Thompson
                to refund taxes in the amount of $6,953.52
                pursuant to Section 12-129 of the Connecticut General Statutes.
                Motion carried 8/0.

Memorandum
DATE:   June 20, 2008
TO:     Michael Walsh, Director of Finance
FROM:   Patricia Faucher, Collector of Revenue
RE:     Refund of Taxes
Under the provisions of Section 12-129 of the Connecticut General Statutes, the following persons are entitled to the refunds as requested:

Name and Address
Account
Amount
Reason
Child, Mark J
187 Bradley St
East Hartford, CT 06118
2006-03-57004
34.65
Overpayment
Mark88
Chopus, Raymond
48 Andrew Dr
East Hartford, CT 06118
2006-03-57041
11.38
Overpayment
Marker # 797175
Condori, Simon E
362 O’Connell Dr
East Hartford, CT 06118-3445
2006-03-57944
18.68
Assessor’s Adjustment
Marker # 850NSL
Gengras Harley Davidson
221 Governor St
East Hartford, CT 06118-1641
2006-03-64578
42.94
Assessor’s Adjustment
VIN # ZDM1UB5V16B016282
Honda Lease Trust
600 Kelly Way
Holyoke, MA 01040-9681
2006-03-67850
133.65
Assessor’s Adjustment
VIN # 2HGES25834H531030
Horn, John
249 Timber Trail Road
East Hartford, CT 06118-3583
2006-03-68037
31.60
Assessor’s Adjustment
Marker # 909GFC
K and S Distributors Inc
50 Oakland Ave
East Hartford, CT 06108
2006-03-69458
120.96
Assessor’s Adjustment
Marker # 671RSY
Morris, Robert E or
Morris, Frances E
68 Wakeley Rd
Newington, CT 06111
2006-01-2039
1420.49
Overpayment
71 Shadycrest Drive
Nissan Infiniti LTD
PO Box 254648
Sacramento, CA 95865
2006-03-77379
407.25
Assessor’s Adjustment
Marker # 375UFU
Penske Truck Leasing Co. L.P.
Rout 10 Green Hills
PO Box 1321
Reading, PA 19603-1321
2006-03-79478
407.70
Assessor’s Adjustment
VIN # 1FVABSAL71HH98381
POD Enterprises Inc
ATTN: Tax Dept.
5585 Rio Vista Dr
Clearwater, FL 33760
2006-02-41321
4117.14
Overpayment
Unique ID # PPP03493
Poitras, Jacqueline
1057 Forbes St
East Hartford, CT 06118-2215
2006-03-80491
5.81
Assessor’s Adjustment
Marker # 612NZZ
Roy, Veronica
70 Cheyenne Rd
East Hartford, CT 06118-2510
2004-03-83789
2005-03-83725
2006-03-83500
62.01 + 65.44 + 54.18 = 181.63
181.63
Assessor’s Adjustment
Marker # 925NGY
Smaglis, Gary
184 Larrabee St
East Hartford, CT 06108-2736
2006-03-85735
19.64
Overpayment
Marker # 755537
TOTAL
6,953.52

_____________________
Patricia Faucher, CCMC


Referral to Real Estate Acquisition & Disposition Committee re: 18-22 Main Street

MOTION  By Bill Horan
                seconded by Eric Thompson
                to refer to the Real Estate Acquisition & Disposition Committee the issue
regarding signalization mechanisms at 18-22 Main Street, with instructions
to review the issue and report back to the Town Council with its
recommendations, if any.
Motion carried 8/0.

Outdoor Amusement Permit Application: “Concert of Praise”

MOTION  By Marc Weinberg
                seconded by Eric Thompson
to approve the outdoor amusement permit application, “Concert of Praise”, to be held on the Town Green in East Hartford on Saturday, September 13, 2008 from 12 Noon to 6:00 PM with music from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, subject to compliance with adopted codes and regulations of the State of Connecticut, the Town of East Hartford, and any other stipulations
required by the Town of East Hartford or its agencies; and to waive the
associated permit fees.
Motion carried 8/0.

Appointments to Boards and Commissions: Hockanum River Commission

MOTION  By Barbara Rossi
                seconded by Marc Weinberg
                to approve the following appointments to the Hockanum River
Commission:
                1.      Scott Hollister, 35 Kencove Drive; term to expire 12/11
                2.      Bruce Jokubaitis, 11 Kingston Drive, term to expire 12/11
Motion carried 8/0.


Recommendations from Real Estate Acquisition & Disposition Committee:

15 Hilltop Farms Lane

MOTION  By Bill Horan
                seconded by Pat Harmon
                to accept the property known as 15 Hilltop Farms Lane, subject to
existing real estate taxes, and to accept the associated roads, known as
Hilltop Farms Lane and Jonathan Lane, as town roads.
Motion carried 8/0.

Bantle Road

MOTION  By Bill Horan
                seconded by Eric Thompson
to refuse the offer of the property known as 3.64 acres of open space off
Bantle Road as shown on a map entitled the “Rose Subdivision” which
offer was made to the town by Country Way Development, and to
authorize the town to settle the outstanding real estate taxes on that
property for $1.00.
Motion carried 8/0.

Kilty Farms – Open Space

MOTION  By Bill Horan
                seconded by Barbara Rossi
                to authorize the town to acquire the Kilty Farms property consisting of 9.32
acres known as 105 & 107 Ellington Road and 132 Goodwin Street, for use
as open space, for the price of $450,000 to be paid with $400,000 from
State Open Space Funds and $50,000 from town funds.
Motion carried 8/0.

MOTION  By Bill Horan
                seconded by Eric Thompson
to authorize the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the owners of the Kilty Farms property, and with the engineering firm of Fuss and O’Neil, to permit Fuss & O’Neil to enter onto the property for purposes of doing a Phase I Study on the property, and to authorize the Mayor to accept the sum of $2,900.00 from the Capitol Region Council of Governments to be used to pay for the Phase I study.
Motion carried 8/0.


OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILLORS TO DIRECT QUESTIONS TO THE ADMINISTRATION

Don Pitkin inquired (1) on the progress of the DiPietro Park; and (2) the temporary road at the Silver Lane cemetery.

Jason Rojas asked about (1) applying for grants from the Homeland Security Department which could benefit the town’s fire department; and (2) using the funds that were earmarked for the Probate Court move for the demolition of the barns/buildings at the DiPietro property.

Rich Kehoe suggested that the State Department of Transportation take into consideration bike lanes at the intersection of Silver Lane and Forbes Street when the redesign of that corner is addressed.


COUNCIL ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION MATTERS

None


OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK

Patrick Sanzo, 23 Risley Street, suggested that the town post signs indicating “bike lanes” at the corner of Forbes Street and Silver Lane.  Mr. Sanzo also urged residents to attend the upcoming Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.


ADJOURNMENT

MOTION  By Don Pitkin
                seconded by Jason Rojas
                to adjourn (9:17 p.m.).
                Motion carried 8/0.


The Chair announced that the next meeting of the Town Council would be on July 8, 2008.






                                        Attest________________________________
                                                        Angela M. Attenello
                                                          TOWN COUNCIL CLERK